The Trident Community Council met for the first time on Tuesday June 16 following elections on June 4. The Council is one of the first to adopt the name Community Council following changes in the law that now allows names other than Parish or Town. The Trident Community Council is also unique by nature of its urban location.

One of the first jobs of the Community Council was to elect the Chair and Vice Chair with the office of Chair going to Councillor Taj Salam and Vice-chair to Councillor Shazada Meer.

Councillor Taj Salam said, 'It is a great honour to have been elected not only for the Community Council but also to be its Chair. I am sure the council will bring many benefits to the area.'

His view was echoed by Vice Chair Councillor Shazada Meer, 'The Trident Community Council is a new and exciting way of residents being involved in community decision making and I know all councillors will be working hard over the coming years.'

Bradford Council also welcomed the formation of the Trident Community Council.

Little Horton Ward Councillors Ian Greenwood, Sher Khan and Naveeda Ikram greeted the formation of the council saying, 'The Trident Community Council can only be a good thing for the future of the Trident area. Not only does it add to the voice of our community but it also is in tune with the drive to improve services at the very local level by including residents in the process. I wish the new council every success.'

As the Trident Community Council develops it will have an increasing impact on facilities and services. It will have a large input into planning applications and will supply directors to Bradford Trident which will carry on the work of the New Deal for Communities programme when government funding ends next March.

The full results were:

Holme Top Ward

Yasmin Begum 142 votes

Balaal Hussain Khan 78 votes

(Rodney Hutchinson got 58 votes and was not elected)

Marshfields Ward

Taj Mubarik Salam 613 votes

Shah Mohammad Khokar 423 votes

(Shamser Malik got 361 votes and was not elected)

Melbourne Ward

Munawar Khan 242 votes

Sadacat Ali Khan 178 votes

(Ajmal Khan got 168 votes and Akhtar Zaman Khan got 164. Both not elected)

Parkside Ward

Niaz Hussain Ali elected unapposed

Vacant seat to be co-opted by the 11 elected councillors

Ripley Ward

Zumarrad Khan and Shazada Meer elected unapposed

Woodroyd Ward